Display package for trouser socks or similar hosiery articles, and blanks for making same

ABSTRACT

A display package for trouser socks or similar hosiery articles comprises a box extending longitudinally from a first closed end to a second open end thereof, and a removable card configured to be inserted through an open end of one of the hosiery articles to an opposite closed end thereof such that the card extends substantially along an entire length of the hosiery article and stretches the hosiery article flat. The card with the hosiery article stretched thereover is inserted into the box along with at least one additional hosiery article. The card preferably is folded in a doubled-over configuration before inserting the card into the box. The consumer can readily remove the card with the hosiery article stretched over it, and can examine all areas of the article without having to remove the article from the card. When finished examining the article, the consumer can easily insert the card back into the box, thereby placing the box in its original state. The package preferably includes a hang tab that can be moved from a non-use position lying in the plane of a rear wall of the box below the upper edge thereof, and a deployed position projecting above the upper edge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to display packages for trouser socks or similar hosiery articles, and to blanks of flexible sheet material for forming such packages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Trouser socks are a category of hosiery knit on high needle-count knitting machines, typically lacking reciprocated heels or toes. In the past, trouser socks have been packaged in one of two ways: hanging on a card, or rolled and placed inside a box with a cellophane window through which the color of the sock can be seen. An advantage of hanger card packaging is that the socks are fully exposed for the prospective purchaser to view and inspect for texture, feel, appearance, etc. Disadvantageously, however, with the hanger card package the sock must be “boarded” prior to packaging. Boarding entails pulling the socks over metal forms and subjecting them to heat to iron out wrinkles and flatten the socks. Thus, the boarding process is a step in the manufacturing operation that desirably would be omitted if possible, but unfortunately is necessary with hanger card packaging if the socks are to have an attractive appearance.

[0003] The other type of trouser sock packaging noted above generally is used when several pairs of socks of different colors or designs are packaged in the same box. The cellophane window allows all of the pairs to be viewed so the purchaser can see the colors and designs, but if the purchaser wants to examine the texture, feel, shape, and size of the socks he or she will generally remove the socks from the box and unroll them. The difficulty with this is that the purchaser rarely is able or willing to take the care to re-roll the socks the way they were originally rolled and place them back in the box and reassemble the box in its original state. The result often is damaged product that the retailer must return to the manufacturer as unsellable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The display package of the invention enables the step of boarding to be omitted, and yet presents the hosiery articles in an attractive fashion. The display package also enables a consumer to readily remove and examine the articles and then reassemble the package in its original state. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a display package for trouser socks or similar hosiery articles comprises a box extending longitudinally from a first closed end to a second open end thereof, and a removable card configured to be inserted through an open end of one of the hosiery articles to the opposite closed end thereof such that the card extends substantially along the entire length of the hosiery article and stretches the hosiery article flat. The card with the hosiery article stretched thereover is inserted into the box along with at least one additional hosiery article. Thus, the hosiery article is presented in a flattened, unwrinkled manner so that it has an attractive appearance even though the article has not been boarded. Furthermore, the consumer can readily remove the card with the hosiery article stretched over it, and can examine all areas of the article without having to remove the article from the card. When finished examining the article, the consumer can easily insert the card back into the box, thereby placing the box in its original state.

[0005] The display package can be used for packaging a single pair of hosiery articles, or more than one pair can be contained in the package.

[0006] Preferably, the card and the box are sized in length such that when the card is inserted fully into the box, an end portion of the card with the hosiery article thereon projects out the open end of the box so that a portion of the hosiery article is displayed for the consumer to see without having to remove the card from the box.

[0007] Where the hosiery articles are relatively long, the card preferably has a fold region so that the card can be doubled over on itself after the hosiery article is stretched over it, the folded card then being inserted into the box. Conceivably, the card could be folded in two places if the hosiery articles were very long, such that the folded card had a length one-third that of the fully extended article. Thus, the length of the box can be a fraction of the length of the fully extended hosiery article, and yet the full length of the hosiery article can be stretched flat on the card.

[0008] The package can be configured to sit in a bin or on a shelf in a position enabling the consumer to see the hosiery article at the top end of the package. Alternatively, the package can include a hanger element at the open end of the box so that the package can be hung from a display rack or the like. Preferably, however, the package is designed to either sit on a shelf or hang from a rack. To this end, in a preferred embodiment the package has a hanger element in the form of a tab with a hole in it for receiving a peg or hook, or a hook-shaped tab for engaging a peg or the like. The tab advantageously comprises an integral portion of the rear wall of the box, and preferably is movable between a non-use position in which it remains in the plane of the rear wall below an upper edge thereof and a deployed position in which it projects above the upper edge of the rear wall. For example, the tab can be cut out from the rear wall along three sides except for small areas along the cut lines that are left uncut. When the package is to be displayed on a shelf, these uncut areas can be left intact so that the tab remains in the plane of the rear wall. However, if the package is to be hung from a rack, the uncut areas can be broken and the tab can be bent upward to serve as a hang tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a number of display packages in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention hanging on a display rack;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the display packages, showing the card with the hosiery article thereon being removed from the box;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the card being unfolded to present the hosiery article in a fully extended, flattened condition, and showing another hosiery article tucked into the top end of the article that is stretched over the card;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the card being removed from the hosiery article;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the box of the display package, partially broken away to show details of the construction of the box; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a box blank in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention for making the box of the display package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0017] A display package in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is broadly designated by reference numeral 20. The display package 20 comprises a box 22 and a removable card 24. The box 22 has a first closed end 26 and an opposite second end 28 that is open for inserting the card 24 into and removing the card from the box. As further described below, the box is formed from a flexible sheet material such as paperboard or any similar material that can be folded into a box shape. The card 24 likewise comprises a flexible sheet of paperboard or a similar material.

[0018] The box 22 at the open end 28 has a hanger element for hanging the display package from a display rack as shown in FIG. 1, if desired. The hanger element in the illustrated embodiment comprises a tab 30 having a hole in it for receiving a peg or the like. However, the hanger element alternatively could comprise a tab shaped as a hook for engaging a peg, or any other type of hanger element capable of hanging the package from a display rack.

[0019] The card 24 has a length about equal to, or preferably slightly greater than, that of the hosiery articles to be packaged when the articles are fully extended. Thus, the full length of one of the hosiery articles S can be pulled over the card until the end of the card reaches the closed toe end of the article, and the opposite end of the card is adjacent to or projects slightly beyond the open end of the hosiery article, as shown in FIG. 3. The width of the card 24 is such that the hosiery article is stretched into a flattened configuration when it is pulled over the card. Preferably, the width of the card exceeds the relaxed width of the hosiery article when the article is flattened, such that the article is stretched in its widthwise direction when the card is inserted. This helps to smooth out wrinkles.

[0020] Preferably, the card 24 has a fold region 32 located centrally along the length of the card so that the card with the article stretched over it can be folded into a doubled-over configuration before inserting the card into the box 22, as in FIG. 2. The fold region 32 preferably comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced fold lines 34 (FIG. 4) such that the portions of the card on opposite sides of the fold lines can be folded about the fold lines into spaced, parallel and opposing relation. The space between these two portions of the card affords room for accommodating the other hosiery article S of the pair, and also provides a more-attractive appearance at the fold region. Advantageously, the other hosiery article can be tucked into the open end of the article that is stretched over the card 24 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0021] The folded card 24 with the hosiery article S thereon is inserted into the box 22 such that the fold region of the card 24 projects up from the open end of the box as shown in FIG. 1. This exposed portion of the card preferably extends up to the very top of the package, just below the hanger tab 30. To this end, the length of the card 24 is about twice that of the rear panel of the box 22.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the box 22 preferably is constructed from a blank B comprising a sheet of flexible material such as paperboard or the like. The blank B includes a generally rectangular front panel 36 that forms a front wall of the box, a generally rectangular rear panel 38 that forms a rear wall of the box, and a first side panel 40, second side panel 42, and third side panel 44 that form the three side walls of the box. Although the various panels can be arranged in different ways relative to one another, in the illustrated embodiment the first side panel 40 is located between the front and rear panels 36, 38 and is connected to side edges of these panels along fold lines 46, 48, respectively. The second side panel 42, which forms the closed end of the box, is connected to a bottom edge of the front panel 36 along a fold line 50. The third side panel 44 is connected to a side edge of the front panel 36 along a fold line 52. A flap 54 is connected to the second side panel 42 along a fold line 56, and a glue flap 58 is connected to the third side panel 44 along a fold line 60. End tabs 62 and 64 are connected to bottom edges of the first and third side panels 40 and 44, respectively, along fold lines that are colinear with the fold line 50 between the front panel 36 and the second side panel 42.

[0023] To form the box 22, the front panel 36 is folded 90° about the fold line 46 and the first side panel is folded 90° about the fold line 48 to place the front panel 36 over the rear panel 38, the third side panel 44 is folded 90° about the fold line 52, and the glue flap 58 is folded 90° about the fold line 60 such that the glue flap 58 is against an inner surface of the rear panel 38. The glue flap 58 is glued to the inner surface of the rear panel 38, thereby forming a box structure open at both ends. The end tabs 62, 64 are then folded 90° about their fold lines so that they extend across the open bottom end of the box, the second side panel 42 is folded 90° about its fold line 50 so as to cover the open end of the box, and the flap 54 is folded 9020 about its fold line 56 and is tucked into the bottom end of the box, thus forming the box 22.

[0024] The blank B also includes a panel 66 connected to an upper edge of the rear panel 38 along a fold line 68. A hang tab 30 is cut out from the rear panel 38 along a generally U-shaped cut line that extends from the fold line 68. The panel 66 is folded 180° about the fold line 68 onto the inner surface of the rear panel 38 and is glued thereto except where the panel 66 overlies the tab 30. The cut line defining the tab 30 preferably is not completely cut, such that small uncut areas remain attached between the tab 30 and the rest of the rear panel 38. Until these uncut areas are broken, therefore, the tab 30 will remain in the plane of the rear panel 38 below the upper edge thereof. Thus, if the package is not to be hung from a rack, the tab 30 can remain in this non-use position. However, if the package is to be hung, then the tab can be separated from the rear panel 38 by breaking the uncut areas and can be bent upward 180° into a deployed position projecting above the upper edge of the rear panel as shown in FIG. 5. The hang tab 30 has a hole therethrough for receiving a peg or the like as illustrated in FIG. 1. The length of the rear panel 38, from its bottom edge to its top edge at the fold line 68, preferably is longer than the length of the front panel 36 from its bottom edge at the fold line 50 to its top edge. This extra length of the rear panel 38 enables the hosiery article to project up from the open top end of the box 22 below the hang tab 30.

[0025] It will be recognized that the various panels of the box blank can be arranged in different ways. For example, the front and rear panels could be arranged end-to-end with a panel between them for forming the closed bottom end of the box, and side panels for forming the opposite side walls of the box could be connected to opposite side edges of one of the front and rear panels, with glue flaps being connected to the side panels for attaching the side panels to the other of the front and rear panels. Other arrangements can also be used for the panels of the box blank. Furthermore, although the box 22 has defined side walls extending perpendicularly between the front and rear walls, the box conceivably could be an envelope configuration having side edges of the front and rear walls joined directly to each other. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to any particular construction of the box and the associated blank therefor, the embodiments illustrated in the drawings being merely for exemplary purposes to explain the principles of the invention.

[0026] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display package for at least one pair of trouser socks or similar hosiery articles, comprising: a box extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end thereof, the first end being closed and the second end being open for insertion and removal of the hosiery articles into and from the box; and a removable card configured to be inserted through an open end of one of the hosiery articles to an opposite closed end thereof such that the card extends substantially along an entire length of the hosiery article and stretches the hosiery article flat, the card with the hosiery article stretched thereover being insertable into the box along with at least one additional hosiery article and being removable from the box to allow the flattened hosiery article on the card to be examined.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein respective lengths of the box and the card are such that, when the card with the hosiery article stretched thereover is fully inserted longitudinally into the open end of the box, a portion of the hosiery article on the card protrudes out from the open end of the box so as to display the hosiery article.
 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the length of the box is substantially less than that of the card and of the hosiery articles, and wherein the card has a fold region for folding the card into a doubled-over configuration before inserting the card into the box.
 4. The package of claim 3, wherein the length of the card is about twice that of the box.
 5. The package of claim 2, further comprising a hanger element formed at the open end of the box for hanging the box from a display rack.
 6. The package of claim 5, wherein the hanger element comprises a tab projecting from one wall of the box.
 7. The package of claim 6, wherein the tab comprises an integral portion of a rear wall of the box and is movable between a non-use position in which the tab lies in the plane of the rear wall below an upper edge thereof and a deployed position in which the tab projects above the upper edge of the rear wall.
 8. The package of claim 1, wherein the box is formed from a single sheet of flexible material folded and secured in a generally rectangular box shape, the box having a rear wall and a front wall and three side walls extending between the rear and front walls along three edges thereof.
 9. The package of claim 8, wherein the card is generally rectangular and has a length about twice that of the rear wall, the card being folded into a doubled-over configuration and inserted into the box.
 10. The package of claim 9, wherein the front wall of the box has a length less than that of the rear wall so as to expose a portion of the card with the hosiery article stretched thereover at the open end of the box.
 11. The package of claim 10, further comprising a hanger element formed on the rear wall at the open end of the box for hanging the package from a display rack.
 12. A packaged hosiery product, comprising: at least one pair of hosiery articles of generally tubular configuration each having a closed toe end and an open top end; a generally rectangular card having a length at least about that of the hosiery articles when the hosiery articles are fully extended lengthwise and having a width exceeding a relaxed width of the hosiery articles when the articles are flattened; and a generally rectangular box extending longitudinally from a closed bottom end to an open top end thereof, the box having a front wall and a rear wall and a hanger element formed at the open top end for hanging the box from a display rack, the hanger element being spaced vertically above an upper edge of the front wall; one of the hosiery articles being sleeved over the card such that the article is stretched by the card into a flattened configuration, and the card with the one hosiery article thereon being inserted into the box along with the other hosiery article, an end portion of the one hosiery article on the card projecting upward above the open top end of the box so as to display the hosiery article.
 13. The packaged hosiery product of claim 12, wherein the length of the box is substantially less than that of the card and of the hosiery articles, and wherein the card has a fold region for folding the card into a doubled-over configuration before inserting the card into the box.
 14. The packaged hosiery product of claim 13, wherein the length of the card is about twice that of the box.
 15. A pair of blanks for making a display package for a pair of trouser socks or similar hosiery articles, comprising: a box blank for forming a generally rectangular box, the box blank comprising a sheet of flexible material and having a generally rectangular front panel for forming a front wall of the box, a generally rectangular rear panel for forming a rear wall of the box, and first, second, and third side panels for forming side walls of the box, the box blank defining fold lines for folding the front panel into spaced, parallel and opposing relation with the rear panel and for folding the side panels so as to extend between the front and rear panels along three edges thereof to form the box with an open end, the front and rear panels having substantially equal widths; and a card blank for forming a card that is insertable into one of the hosiery articles to stretch the hosiery article into a flattened configuration, the card blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet of flexible material having a width slightly less than that of the front and rear panels and a length substantially exceeding a length of the front and rear panels, the card blank defining a fold region for folding the card blank into a doubled-over configuration with a length substantially matching that of the front and rear panels.
 16. The blanks of claim 15, wherein the length of the rear panel exceeds that of the front panel such that when the front panel is folded into spaced, parallel and opposing relation with the rear panel one end of the rear panel extends beyond a corresponding end of the front panel.
 17. The blanks of claim 16, wherein the card blank has a length about twice that of the rear panel and the fold region of the card blank is located centrally along the length of the card blank such that when doubled over the card blank has a length about equal to that of the rear panel.
 18. The blanks of claim 15, wherein the box blank includes a hanger panel formed at one end of the rear panel for forming a hanger element by which the box can be hung from a display rack.
 19. The blanks of claim 18, wherein the hanger panel comprises an integral portion of the rear panel.
 20. The blanks of claim 19, wherein the hanger panel is movable between a non-use position lying in the plane of the rear panel below an upper edge thereof and a deployed position projecting above the upper edge of the rear panel. 